New Game of Thrones fan theory adds a twist to the Cleganebowl theory

New Game of Thrones fan theory adds a twist to the Cleganebowl theory

Game of Thrones is a show that has beautifully shown relationships, and sibling relationships are the best ones. They range from the incestuous Jaime-Cersei to ‘I will kill you’ Sandor-Gregor relationship. Speaking of which, we are instantly reminded about Cleganebowl.

If you don’t know what that is, let me remind you. The Clegane brothers, Sandor, a.k.a. The Hound, and Gregor, a.k.a. The Mountain, have always been at each other’s throats, and Cleganebowl is the name for their highly anticipated face-off.

In Season 7, we got quite close to Cleganebowl, and we even saw The Hound straight up walk up to The Mountain, and say “You know who’s coming for you. You’ve always known.” A new fan theory now confirms Cleganebowl from a new perspective. Read on!

The theory comes from Redditor Askingforafriendta, and it makes a connection between Hound seeing things in fire in Season 7, and the fact that he was burned by fire by his brother, as a kid. Read it in full, below :

“We know the Hound can see visions in the flames and we know there’s an unspoken hatred between the Clegane brothers. We never understood it until they see each other face to face. When the Hound says “You’ve always known”, he makes a very clear claim. The Mountain has always known that The Hound would kill him.

I theorize that when they were children, Sandor looked into the flames and foresaw Cleaganbowl – Gregor dying at the hands of Sandor. When he told his brother what he saw, Gregor became enraged and tried to kill him with that fire. Gregor never attacked Sandor over a toy, he tried to kill him to prevent the vision from coming true.

So Gregor has been rage killing ever since because he knew he was invincible to all but Sandor. Sandor has been avoiding the flames ever since not just because of the trauma of being burned, but because the visions he saw there caused everything between the brothers.”

As weird this theory sounds, it also seems quite possible. The theory might explain his conversation with the Mountain when he met him this season and would be a great arc for their storylines. What do you think? Talk to us in the comments, down below!

You may like

George R.R. Martin’s latest book confirms a popular theory about Gendry’s character arc

Gendry – the last living heir of Robert Baratheon in the TV series (apart from Edric Storm in the books) has a lot ahead in his character arc. A popular theory about his end-game suggests a lot for him, which has almost been confirmed by George R.R. Martin’s latest book – ‘Fire and Blood’.

We will talk about how the popular theory is confirmed but let’s first discuss the theory itself and its chances of being true if not for the new book, following Gendry’s journey so far. Nope, we are not talking about the theory of Arya Stark and Gendry ending up together in the end. That may be true but this theory is entirely different and suggests that Gendry, being the last and sole heir of House Baratheon may be legitimized and doing something epic in the Final Season like slaying the Ice Dragon. Many fans and popular YouTubers have long theorized this.

Gendry’s Journey So Far…

Gendry is first introduced to us in the TV show indirectly by the late Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish – when he suggests Eddard Stark to visit Tobho Mott’s shop in FleaBottom. When Ned follows and visits the blacksmith’s shop, he meets Gendry for the first time and immediately realizes that he is Robert Baratheon’s bastard son.

The scene ends with Ned saying to Tobho Mott, “If the day ever comes when that boy would rather wield a sword than forge one, send him to me.” We ultimately got a big callback from this important scene in the seventh season, when Gendry ultimately returned after rowing for three seasons in season 7. He also made a war hammer for himself just like his father once wielded and had used in the Battle of the Trident.

Gendry then ends up becoming a travelling companion for Arya but the group is taken prisoner by the Lannisters and taken to Harrenhal. The two along with Hot Pie, break out of Harrenhal with the help of JaqenH’ghar and come across the Brotherhood without Banners. Hot Pie later finds a life serving as a baker at and an inn, while the other two continue their journey with the brotherhood.

Gendry is then taken captive by the Red Priestess – Melisandre, who performs some bizarre blood magic rituals using him. Yet, jokes aside Mel has told Gendry a few important lines which definitely have to pay off in the coming events of the Final Season. Two of them are:

“You are more than they can ever be… They are just foot soldiers in the Great War… You will make Kings rise and fall.”

“[You’re] the Bastard of Robert of the House Baratheon, the first of his name, King of the Andals and the First Men.”

After Mel’s ritual on him, Ser Davos Seaworth frees Gendry, making him escape on a boat from Dragonstone. The fans including me wondered where the character had been for complete three seasons, yet he returned in the Seventh Season slaying all those ‘boat-rowing’ jokes. He has returned and will also play a huge role in the Final Season, as confirmed by the actor himself.

Gendry is found by Davos while on a secret mission to King’s Landing, who joins him on his way back to Dragonstone. He then goes on the wight hunting venture with Jon Snow and party beyond-the-Wall but has to take a marathon back to Eastwatch in order to send a raven to Daenerys Targaryen, informing her about the White Walker ambush. We don’t get see any more of him in the last season.

But, the scripts of the last season have confirmed that he is with team Jon and Daenerys and is most probably travelling to Winterfell with them. And, we can’t hold our grudges for awaiting reunion of Arya and Gendry.

What did ‘Fire and Blood’ confirm?

George R.R. Martin’s latest book ‘Fire and Blood’ confirms a lot of things – at least the binge-readers say so. Like for example, the origin of the dragons of Daenerys in the first place and even an exciting parallel between Aegon the Conquerer and the current Aegon – Jon Snow.

‘The World of Ice and Fire’ – an account of Westerosi history has already given the link of Orys Baratheon – the founder of House Baratheon with the Targaryens. But, the latest book gives us more insight on how Gendry of House Baratheon may be legitimized by a Targaryen (Jon or Dany, if they survive the Great War). Quoting the two passages here:

“The son of a common blacksmith, Hammer was a huge man, with hands so strong that he was said to be able to twist steel bars into torcs. Though largely untrained in the art of war, his size and strength made him a fearsome foe. His weapon of choice was the Warhammer, with which he delivered crushing, killing blows.”

“In battle he rode Vermithor, once the mount of the Old King himself; of all the dragons in Westeros, only Vhagar was older or larger. For all these reasons, Lord Hammer (as he now styled himself) began to dream of crowns. “Why be a lord when you can be a king?” he told the men who began to gather round him”

“And talk was heard in camp of a prophecy of ancient days that said, “When the hammer shall fall upon the dragon, a new king shall arise, and none shall stand before him.” Whence came these words remains a mystery (not from Hammer himself, who could neither read nor write), but within a few days every man at Tumbleton had heard them.”

“Though Hammer’s ambition was unseemly in one born so low, the bastard undeniably possessed some Targaryen blood and had proved himself fierce in battle and open-handed to those who followed him, displaying the sort of largesse that draws men to leaders as a corpse draws flies.”

“They were the worst sort of men, to be sure: sellswords, robber knights, and like rabble, men of tainted blood and uncertain birth who loved battle for its own sake and lived for rapine and plunder. Many had heard the prophecy that the hammer would smash the dragon, and took it to mean that Hard Hugh’s triumph was foreordained.”

Two interesting parallels between Hugh the Hammer and Gendry here – both are blacksmiths and high-born bastards. If the prophecy is to be believed can Gendry hammer down the Wight Viserion controlled by the Night King? And, will he be legitimized after the Great War to become King Gendry Baratheon of Storm’s End?

What were your thoughts on this interesting parallel? Tell us in the comments section. Join the community and subscribe to our YouTube Channel for all the latest updates.

Alt Shift X shares a new theory on what might’ve caused the Doom of Valyria

Civilizations have existed since times unknown. They have risen from nothing, built a unique world rooted in their resources and climate, ran their distance, and then desolated back into nothing. The doom is inevitable. Be it Ancient Greece, Egypt or the Indus Valley, every great civilization has come to an end. The reasons are mostly unknown and mysterious. But there’s always speculation around the excavated ruins.

A Song of Ice and Fire has given us an awe-inspiring world, one that holds ancient mysteries and secrets, much like our own world. Westeros is the dominant force in Game of Thrones (Television Series). But far off in time, this world had a great civilization, Valyria. It’s located to the east of Westeros. The Valyrians were dragonlords who built their empire around the volcanic mountains called Fourteen Flames in the Valyrian peninsula.

Valyrians called themselves the Freehold, they had fought against the enslavers of the time, Ghiscari. All the Freeholders were believed to have a say in Valyria. Through dragons and sorcery, Valyrians built an empire around the world that would be the envy of any rival. Valyria was the capital city. But then, some four hundred years before the current scene of events in Game of Thrones, the doom took over Valyria. Everything around the Fourteen Flames exploded with huge volcanic eruptions. All the great knowledge, dragons, and skills of the Valyrians were lost.

Targaryens were one of the dragonlords of Valyria. Right now, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are the only surviving members of this House. This makes them the only ones with Valyrian heritage in Westeros. We get a glimpse into the ruins in Game of Thrones season 5 when Jorah Mormont and Tyrion Lannister cross Valyria on their way to Meereen.

But how and why did the doom occur? Alt Shift X recently came up with a video on what might have caused the Doom of Valyria.

The video travels through the history of Valyrian civilization. What were the powers and skills that they wielded to build such a magnificent empire? What were the conflicts among the great Houses of Valyria? Which of their activities were potentially responsible for the doom? The involvement of Lannister gold, the Faceless Men, and Targaryens.

The theory connects all the possible dots to build a conclusive evidence of what might have happened to the dragonlords. It presents that the Valyrians became enslavers themselves, taking over the people they conquered, employing them in hundreds and thousands to mine the gold and silver from the footholds of the mountains of Fourteen Flames.

They believed they had descended from the dragons and kept their bloodline pure by marrying into their own kin. Valyrians were advanced in their technology, using Dragonfire and magic to build great towers and colonies. They forged Valyrian steel to make swords, which were in great demand throughout the world. But gradually, conflicts arose among the Houses of Valyria.

Faceless Men are believed to originate among the slaves of Valyria. It’s said that the first gift of death was granted to one of the slaves, who wanted an end to their pain. Arya Stark‘s favorite cult of assassins gradually came for the masters as well.

Now, the Targaryens left Valyria before the doom and settled at Dragonstone. Daenys the Dreamer had foreseen Valyria’s destruction by fire, which was earlier prophesized. They were among the minor lords of Valyria and were called cowards for leaving their homeland.

The prophecy said that the gold of Casterly Rock would become the reason for the doom of Valyria. The Lannisters of Casterly Rock were rich even during the ancient times, and a payment in gold for the Valyrian sword, Brightroar triggered the chain of events. Possibly, amidst the conflicts and pride of the Valyrian Houses, a payment of this gold was made to Faceless Men, who assassinated the sorcerers of the Houses whose magic held the Fourteen Flames.

The theory calls this happening either coincidental and shortsighted, or deliberate and planned. The Targaryens, who have inherited the beliefs of racial superiority and incest from Valyria, were the only ones to survive. They then went on to rule Westeros. Is there a connection between their survival and the doom of their ancestors?

The doom still rules over Valyria, just like speculation and theories rule over us till Game of Thrones comes back for its conclusion in 2019. What are your thoughts on this video? Tell us in the comments.

It’s a matter of a long-debate among many theorists and YouTubers if this would actually end up happening. Well, we believe that since the final season and the final two books are on the way, all we can do is speculate:

Hints in the TV series:

“I have a son, you have a daughter”

In the pilot episode of Season 1, the King Robert Baratheon arrives at Winterfell to name Eddard Stark his hand. He visits the Crypts of Winterfell and mourns for his betrothed Lyanna Stark and says to Ned, “If your sister had lived, we would have been bound by blood… well, it’s not too late…I have a son, you have a daughter, we’ll join our houses.”

In reality, Robert had no trueborn sons and all of his bastard children except Gendry (along withEdric Storm in the books.) are dead. So, it’s highly probable that we will see the only surviving heir of House Baratheon marrying Arya in the final season.

“I can be your family”

Gendry, Arya, and Hot Pie, who break out of Harrenhal with the help of Jaqen H’ghar, come across the Brotherhood without Banners. Hot Pie finds a living serving as a baker at and an inn, while the other two continue their journey with the brotherhood.

Arya begins learning archery with Anguy, while Gendry works as a blacksmith, helping the brotherhood with their armour and weaponry. In the fifth episode of the third season, they both argue over whether to continue with the Brotherhood or not. Arya wants Gendry to go North with her, to serve Robb Stark’s cause. But, he disagrees and says that he’s done with serving people.

“These men are brothers. They’re a family…I’ve never had a family,” he says.

“I can be your family,” says Arya.

“You wouldn’t be my family. You’d be ‘my lady’,” Gendry replies.

So, we can expect this two-minute-scene to pay-off in the final season as now that all major characters in the story are coming together, bringing a major reunion at Winterfell. If keenly observed, the ‘Stark theme’ playing in the background can also be heard, which was played a number of times when reunions took place – whether it’s Jon and Sansa, Bran and Sansa, or Arya and Sansa.

Hints in the Books:

Arya’s first P.O.V. Chapter

A YouTuber named Bridge4 pointed out that it is foreshadowed in the very first P.O.V. chapter of Arya. While she is learning sewing with Sansa and the other ladies of Winterfell, Septa Mordane praises Sansa’s work and comments,

“Arya has the hands of a blacksmith.”

This is a subtle hint of Arya connecting with the blacksmith in the show, none other than Gendry of House Baratheon.

Arya and Gendry as friends

In the books as well, Arya, Gendry, and Hot Pie’s meeting with the Brotherhood happen in a similar fashion, except a dialogue of Gendry. In a Storm of Swords, trying to protect Arya, Gendry confronts the Brotherhood and says,

“She’s not alone.”

Another instance is when Yoren’s party to the Wall get captured by Lannister men. Yoren is killed. Gendry and others are captured, apart from Arya, who later realises that she cares for her friend. While trying to save Gendry, she gets captured too.

Two hearts that beat as one

“Two hearts that beat as one” is a song sung in the books. For the first time, it is sung by Tom Sevenstrings, a singer in the brotherhood at Peach in the Stoney Sept. Arya and Gendry share glances and smile upon this. Another instance is when it is sung by Mance Rayder present at the wedding of Ramsay Bolton and “fake Arya”- Jeyne Poole (Sansa in the show).

With the reference of Arya in the two instance where this song is sung makes it probable that she and Gendry will end up together.

When Arya becomes possessive for Gendry

During one of the journeys of the two, they happen to be in a brothel. Some men there try to bother Arya. Gendry protects her by telling them, “She’s my sister. Leave her be.”

Arya doesn’t like being called Gendry’s sister. She angrily replies, “Why did you say that? You’re not my brother.”

Gendry possibly understands that she has a crush on him and tries to tease her by saying that he’ll sleep with one of the girls in the brothel. This upsets Arya. In her another P.O.V., she angrily tells Gendry to go back to the brothel, which clearly shows her jealousy and possessiveness towards him.

Beyond the books and the series:

We already know that George RR Martin has suggested a bitter-sweet ending for Game of Thrones. We can’t entirely figure out what ending would that be? Which characters will die and who will survive in the end game of the series? But, one thing is probable that many characters will end up becoming something they never wanted from life – Jon a king, Daenerys losing claim to the Iron Throne, and who knows, even Arya would have to settle down as a lady after she cuts off all the names from her ‘kill-list’.

And, who would be a better suitor for her than Gendry, the last living heir to House Baratheon?

So, what do you think would be the end-game for Arya’s character in the series? Tell us in the comments.